While a VPN is useful in many different ways, the two most important reasons why many use a VPN are privacy and security. Whether you are looking for enhanced security or using your Mac to unblock blocked websites or play games or stream videos online, getting a will be beneficial. Macs are secure but they may not be completely immune from cybersecurity threats as Macs and Apple desktop computers are targeted by hackers and cybercriminals these days. Getting a VPN for your Mac will be the best option to stay away from such threats.
Here are the top VPNs we recommend for Mac based on our research and tests.
NordVPN
NordVPN, one of our favorites when it comes to VPNs, is great for Mac. You can enjoy complete internet freedom with NordVPN for Mac. NordVPN has an app for Mac that you can download from the Apple Store. It is easy to install the app and we are sure it will work smoothly with your device.
As soon as you log in, you can connect to a VPN server in a breeze. When you restart your Mac or launch the VPN app, you will automatically be connected to the VPN. You can enjoy complete internet freedom as NordVPN offers unlimited bandwidth and features a no-log policy. You can bid adieu to slow connections and stream content buffer-free with NordVPN.
NordVPN for Mac will let you connect to any of its servers from over 58 counties across the globe. There are hundreds of servers from which you can choose one. No matter where you are in the world, you will not have trouble accessing your favorite content, with NordVPN.
- 5200+ servers in 62 countries
- Use up to 6 devices
- Next-generation Encryption
- Double VPN Feature
- Strict no-logs policy
The kill switch is an important VPN feature that also comes with NordVPN for Mac. This feature will make sure your sensitive data does not leak when the VPN connection abruptly drops. Strong encryption is one of NordVPN’s plusses. Whether you are connected to an unsecured public WiFi network or connected to your home WiFi, NordVPN will secure your data with strong encryption.
Check out our expert review on NordVPN.
IPVanish VPN
IPVanish is not just a speedy VPN but also a VPN service that offers strong security and privacy for your Mac. IPVanish features an easy to use VPN client for Mac and offers the utmost security. With IPVanish for Mac, you can access blocked websites streaming services, censored games, and more.
You can freely browse the web with IPVanish and enjoy complete online freedom. It masks your IP address so that you can stay anonymous online. Your identity will be under wraps with IPVanish’s strong encryption and no-logs policy. Likewise, the strong encryption IPVanish offers will help you stay away from ISP deep packet inspection.
When you are connected to IPVanish, you will be assigned a new IP address so that you can stay away from advertisers as they will not be able to target you. This also applies to censorships and firewalls that prevent you from accessing certain content. Using a Mac VPN like IPVanish will help overcome such issues. You can anonymously watch videos, access social media websites and other websites that are unavailable in your location from your Mac.
- 1,500+ VPN servers
- 40,000+ shared IPs
- Unthrottled speed
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Unmetered connections
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs for Mac that has clients for Mojave, High Sierra, Catalina, Yosemite, and all previous versions. ExpressVPN is well known for its fast speeds and it continuously optimizes its servers for speed.
You can connect your Mac to its servers in 94 countries and in just the click of a button you can unblock all your favorite websites. ExpressVPN’s app works well on all iMac models and MacBook. With this app, you can safely browse on Safari. It also has browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.
Wherever you are in the world, you can enjoy strong and stable connections. It offers DNS and IP leak protection so that your security will remain intact. It also features the network lock switch, which is ExpressVPN’s kill switch that will keep your data safe by blocking your internet traffic when the VPN connection happens to drop.
Read our extensive review on ExpressVPN to know more.
- 160 server locations
- Network Lock kill switch
- Zero-knowledge DNS
- VPN split tunneling
- Stream Sports online
Surfshark VPN
Surfshark VPN has apps for Mac and uses 256-bit encryption to keep your Mac secure. It has a strong server network in over 60 countries. It follows a strict no-log policy and offers strong encryption. It has apps for Windows, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, Chrome, Firefox, Android, and routers.
Surfshark VPN offers a kill switch for Mac in addition to other features like MultiHop, split tunneling, and NoBorders mode that will help bypass regional blocks. Surfshark VPN is torrent-friendly and all its servers support P2P traffic.
Unblocking Hulu, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO GO, ESPN, and Amazon Prime Video will be a breeze with Surfshark VPN. Another reason why we recommend Surfshark VPN is because it allows unlimited parallel connections. Not only can you secure your Mac with this VPN but all other devices, as well.
Surfshark VPN supports the IKEv2 protocol to secure your Mac and it also offers DNS leak protection. Additionally, it blocks ads, malware, phishing attempts, and trackers with its CleanWeb security suite.
Read our full review of the Surfshark VPN.
- Connect unlimited Devices
- AES-256-GCM encryption
- IP & DNS leak protection
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Free Browser Extensions
- Strict no-logs policy
SaferVPN
Fastest connection speeds and bank-level security are two things that make SaferVPN our top choice when it comes to VPNs for Mac. SaferVPN has a dedicated app for Mac. Once you subscribe to the VPN, you can download the app for Mac and connect to the VPN with just a single click. This VPN will immediately offer you internet security while also giving you access to all popular streaming services.
Be it an unsecured public WiFi network or a private one, SaferVPN is sure to protect your data with strong 256-bit level encryption. SaferVPN’s app for Mac runs fast and you can enjoy the fastest connection speeds. This does not apply with just Macs but other platforms, as well. You can connect to SaferVPN’s high-speed servers across the globe and access anything you want. In addition, SaferVPN offers unlimited bandwidth, speed, and unlimited server switching.
It features the VPN kill switch. If the VPN connection drops, the kill switch will automatically disconnect your internet connection. This way, the traffic you send and receive will always pass through the encrypted VPN connection. This VPN also supports advanced VPN protocols like OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, PPTP, and IKEv2
- 1300+ High Speed VPN servers
- 5 Simultaneous Connections
- Automatic Wi-Fi Security
- Unlimited Speed and Bandwidth
- 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
SaferVPN app for Mac will run the background and you can get the latest version of the app automatically. The app also allows users to add servers they use often to their favorite list so that they need not search for the server next time they log in.
Read our full review on SaferVPN.
Why VPN for macOS?
VPNs encrypt your internet traffic thereby protecting your personal information from hackers. VPNs also come with adware and malware blockers so that you will not see annoying ads while using your Mac. Hiding your IP address is one way to stay safe and private while torrenting or gaming online. This will help stay away from surveillance and DDoS attacks.
Let’s Compare Some of the Best VPNs for macOS
Main Features | SaferVPN | NordVPN | IPVanish VPN | ExpressVPN |
---|---|---|---|---|
Company | ||||
$2.50/mo | $3.30/mo | $2.91/mo | $8.32/mo | |
34 | 60 | 75+ | 94+ | |
Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | |
700 | 5600+ | 1300+ | 3000+ | |
5 | 6 | 10 | 5 | |
Good | Good | Good | Good | |
Very Limited(just 3 servers) | ||||
Automatic WiFi security | Double VPN - VPN cascading | SOCKS5 web proxy | Inverse Split Tunneling | |
256-bit AES | 256-bit AES | 256-bit AES | 256-bit AES | |
5 Eyes | 5 Eyes | |||
USA | Panama | USA | British Virgin Islands | |
Windows 8, Windows 7, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux Ubuntu | Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux Ubuntu | Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux Ubuntu, Linux Fedora | Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux Ubuntu, Linux Fedora | |
Chromebook | Chromebook | Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Apple TV, Chromebook | Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Apple TV | |
DD-WRT, Tomato | DD-WRT, Tomato | DD-WRT, Tomato | DD-WRT, Tomato | |
$12.95/mo | $11.95/mo | $10/mo | $12.95/mo | |
N/A | N/A | $8.99/mo | N/A | |
N/A | N/A | N/A | $9.99/mo | |
$5.49/mo ($65.88) | $4.92/mo ($59.00) | $2.91/mo | $8.32/mo ($99.95) | |
1 day | 30 Days | |||
30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | |
Visa, PayPal, Mastercard, American Express, Wire Transfer, Discover, Bitcoins | Visa, PayPal, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Bitcoins | Visa, PayPal, Mastercard, American Express, Wire Transfer, Discover, Bitcoins | Visa, PayPal, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Bitcoins | |
24/7 Live Chat, Email, Twitter, Facebook, Community | 24/7 Live Chat, Email, Twitter, Facebook, Community | 24/7 Live Chat, Email, Twitter, Facebook, Community | Email, Twitter, Facebook, Community, On Call, Remote Desktop | |
Conclusion
There are definitely a lot of choices when it comes to VPNs but it is important to make sure the VPN you choose is a trustworthy VPN service that will keep your data safe online. Based on our tests and research, we have recommended the above-mentioned VPNs for Mac. All these VPNs offer fast speeds and strong security.